Sunday, January 11, 2009

[The fifth in a series of photoessays, the content ofwhich examines my holidays in NYC, DE, MD, VA,and DC.]Tuesday12.23.2008

On my way from a dentist's appointment to a series ofafternoon meetings in Newark, I passed by the old KBToy Works on Kirkwood Highway. With some time tospare before my first lunch meeting, I dropped into theold store, with its chain in the midst of an uglyliquidation, to salute the good old days.

Time was when I would have leapt for joints like thisat full price, not to mention at a 40% off storewide sale.But those days, I suppose, are no longer with us; andsoon, neither will Kay Bee.

For the summers immediately following my senior year of high school,and freshman year of college, I worked at a law firm down thehighway from this KB Toy Works. Every pay day, on my way home, Iwould stop in at the record/DVD store, selecting a used CD or two, andperhaps a movie, then drop by the toy store and browse for 15 minutesor half an hour.

KB Toys isn't the only remnant of my high school years to suffer thetravails of a recession; upon my arrival in Newark, I discovered thatthe legendary Korner Diner, UD staple and on-and-off employmentfor several local friends, had also figuratively shuttered its doors.

Korner Diner stood out as a landmark for me not only for itsadequate diner fare and exceptional hours, but in regards to itsincredibly laxity with regards to regulating its parking lot:besides the Burger King and a vaguely distant shopping center,Korner Diner was the only reliable free parking lot in thedowntown Newark area.

An old friend from Charter, Tom returned to Newarkfor graduate work after an undergraduate career spentin New Jersey; ever since, I can rely on him to kick itwhen I come through.

After a leisurely lunch with Tom, I headed back over tomy parents' church's office, from whence their pastorand I headed over to Panera's, again on Main Street, tobreak it down about ministry and the work in Delawareand back at Yale.

Upon my return home, I discovered a recently-arrived package from the Supreme web store.

Ever since the New Haven winter's inaugural flurries,I had been keeping an eye out for a solid - and flizzy -crewneck. Upon Supreme announcing their first (forme) online sale in recent memory, I had an eye outfor one of these crested crewnecks. After half a monthof waffling, I pushed the button and headed in on it.

Free advertising with purchase.

Thursday12.25.2008

After a solid semester of health, my grace ran out around5 AM on Wednesday morning, Christmas Eve. Havingstayed up until around 3 AM to catch up on a stack ofX-Men comics delivered monthly to my parents' housefor the last five years, I went to bed feeling faintly ill anddiscomfited; I woke at 5 AM with all the symptoms (andthey are unmistakable) of a stomach flu.

After spending a good 66-75% of the 24th in bed, andhaving missed our family's traditional day-earlyobservance of Christmas dinner, I roused myself, wanand peakish, for the Christmas Day celebrations.

The comforts of suburbanity.

The ever-watching Eye of the Media.

My family had also prepared presents for Lydia; and she,in turn, had brought gifts for us.

From the WeSC x Stash collaborative collection, a pair ofraw Japanese selvage... I grow increasingly cognizantof the attractiveness of raw and dry denim. Again,thanks to my parents who keep on providing even withthe state of the economy.

And one last surprise from Mom and Dad. Straight from SBTG, a/k/aSingaporean sneaker customizer Mark Ong, a Royalefam Be@rmyt-shirt, issuing forth from a Medicom Be@rbrick X Royalefam(in-house brand designed and produced by SBTG) collaboration.

Upon reflection, I'm incredibly grateful for my family.Not only - though of course partly - for the material goodswith which they provide me, but just for knowing thatthey care about me; that they are interested about myinterests, thoughtful enough to order a t-shirt fromSingapore or get me another pair of shoes when, as oughtto be fairly obvious to any of my observant readers orcasual acquaintances, I have more than a plentiful stock offootwear. That they always, consistently, provide a warm,welcoming place for me to come home to; even when Iconsider New Haven more of a home than New Castle,the knowledge that they are standing at the gates, waitingin patience, is a Godsend.

I'm trying to say, in words online because I don't really everknow how, or when, to casually and easily say so in person,thank you.

[Next: On the road again! Family and food throughout theMidatlantic states.]